History of Iowa From the Earliest Times to the Beginning of the Twentieth Century/4/Racine D. Kellogg
RACINE D. KELLOGG was born in Fayetteville, Onondaga County, New York, on the 9th of March, 1828. He removed to Iowa in 1854, locating at Garden Grove in Decatur County, where he engaged in farming and dealing in real estate. He was a Democrat in politics and an eloquent public speaker. In 1859 he was elected to the House of the Eighth General Assembly of which he was one of the youngest members. He soon formed an intimate friendship with Ex-Governor N. B. Baker who was a member from Clinton County. Mr. Kellogg acted with the Democratic party during the regular session but when the Rebellion began and his party divided upon the question of sustaining the National administration in crushing armed resistance to the enforcement of the laws, he did not hesitate to stand by the administration. At the extra session called by Governor Kirkwood in May, 1861, to organize the military forces of the State, Mr. Kellogg became one of the leaders of the “War Democrats” and with Governor Baker, Senator Bussey and others, declared for the preservation of the Union at all hazards. At the opening of the session he introduced resolutions (found in another place) pledging unqualified support to the Government, State and National, in suppressing the Rebellion. Governor Kirkwood recognized his patriotism by appointing him major of the Thirty-fourth Iowa Volunteers where he rendered good service in the Union army. He became a Republican during the war when his party passed under control of men not in sympathy with the war for the Union and has often been urged to become a candidate for some of the highest offices in the State but was unwilling to resort to modern methods to secure a nomination. He has long been an honored member of the Pioneer Lawmakers' Association, before which he has delivered several interesting addresses.